A new regional strategy for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy
(GCoM) was discussed by the Regional Consultative Committee of Central America at
a meeting on August 3rd.
Maria Eugênia Salaverría, the representative for the Covenant in Central America,
highlighted the relevance of the strategic action plan presented at the meeting and sent
for evaluation by the signatories in the region. According to her, the strategy “will be
developed to support the municipalities committed to the GCoM”. The strategy is
anchored in four main topics that should be the basis for actions in the coming months.
Initially, the mapping of conditions that enable the development of climate action plans
in the municipalities of each country should be carried out. The action involves the
identification of programs, tools and plans, spaces and themes under development, as
well as success stories related to local climate action.
The second point foresees communication and promotion strategies to encourage the
adhesion of new municipalities. Key messages, official communications, and the
promotion of the GCoM must be developed in at least one regional virtual event.
The presence of virtual mechanisms for the exchange and visibility of information, as
well as the integration and recognition of opportunities and conditions of each
municipality, are provided for in the third point. A web platform should be developed to
organize the data of actions, guides and information for associations and cities, in
addition to other resources and materials generated.
Lastly, facilitators and promoters of the GCoM in Central America and in the Dominican
Republic should receive trainings to address the commitments, requirements, and
benefits of the initiative, in addition to addressing the available resources.
The strategy was sent to the municipal associations that make up the Confederation of
Associations of Municipalities in Central America and the Caribbean (CAMCAYCA – for
its acronym in Spanish) and the GCoM, for approval.
Advances in Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras
The progress since the first Global Covenant meeting in Central America is being
recorded across the region. New signatories joined the Covenant and several actions
were developed. For Maria Eugênia, the meeting allowed to know the progress and
realize that the motivation for the promotion of the Covenant remains active in the
countries, despite the difficulties brought about by the covid-19 pandemic.
In Panama, in addition to the new adhesions, there were advances in the municipality
of Ocú, whose pilot plan should be replicated at the national level. The city already has
a work team, strategic partners and carried out on-site and virtual visits to identify
territorial actors and socialize the initiative with organizations, academia and citizens in
general. There are also planned: training for the elaboration of a Climate Action Plan, in
partnership with ICLEI; an introductory panel to address the “inventory of greenhouse
gases” organized by the Ministry of Environment; and a virtual course on sustainable
buildings to be given to municipal technicians, in partnership with the National Energy
Secretariat.
In Costa Rica, new adhesions to the Covenant were also registered in 2018 and 2019.
The advances resulted in the development of 26 local government practices, which
were summarized in ten measures, four of which were international. There was also
virtual training and monitoring of municipalities to complete the Climate Action Plan and
Sustainable Energy. In the coming months, the country will also work on standardizing
reports on Greenhouse Gases, exchanging experience between signatories and taking
advantage of national tools for planning climate actions for new signatories.
In Honduras, the Global Covenant of Mayors was included in the operational planning
of the Environmental Management Unit and also in the Environment Committee of the
Association of Municipalities of Honduras (AMHON). There have been advances in the
identification of national methodologies for the elaboration of inventories on
Greenhouse Gases. The city of Esquias was highlighted for having joined the
Covenant in February 2020 and already having a defined technical team, emission
analysis information and for having identified future actions to be promoted in the
municipality.
About the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy is the largest global coalition of
local authorities in the world committed to combating climate change to reduce its
impacts and facilitate access to sustainable and affordable energy. There are more
than 10,000 mayors in 135 countries around the world.
A commitment to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy means a
commitment not only to take bold local action, but also to work side by side with peers
around the world to share innovative solutions that enable mayors to do faster and
faster. Global Covenant cities and local governments connect and exchange, learning
and sharing with each other.
